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Mielle Organics will be providing scholarships and more to Hampton University’s female athletes. According to a news release, Mielle Organics, led by Monique Rodriguez (founder and CEO), and Hampton Athletics have cemented a multi-year partnership with the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) for its women’s basketball team. “We are honored to partner with Mielle,” Tamisha Augustin, Hampton women’s basketball head coach, expressed in a news release . “Mielle is an innovator in textured hair products and care. We value our relationship and appreciate their efforts in proudly contributing to the success of our program.” What’s more, the partnership will include an initial $200,000 donation, with another $100,000 being allocated to scholarships for the student-athletes through Rodriguez’s philanthropic initiative, Mielle Cares, which she co-founded with her husband, Melvin Rodriguez. Already serving as the WNBA’s first textured hair care partner, Mielle’s business...
WNBA star Angel Reese has exceeded the expectations of her former agents. During a panel discussion at ComplexCon 2024, Nov. 16-17, in Las Vegas, NV, the Chicago Sky player looked back on the discouraging advice she received from her former agents, who had low expectations for her success with name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. “I used to be with an agency, and I’m not with the agency anymore,” the 22-year-old explained on the panel, moderated by Speedy Morman , according to Complex. “And initially when I was with the agency, that specific agency told me I was never going to make over $2,000. … And that was when NIL first started.” Reese would prove those agents wrong. She has secured a slew of NIL deals with companies that include: Wingstop McDonald’s Raising Cane’s Amazon Sonic Bose Banter by Piercing Pagoda TurboTax Xfinity JanSport Outback Steakhouse In April 2024, her NIL valuation had reached $1.8 million, notes The Street. Reese is now working with new agents, Jeanine...
Angel Reese plans to retire her mother. Reese, born in Randallstown, MD, on May 6, 2002, to Michael Reese and Angel Webb Reese, has grown into an influential athlete, already making her mark in the WNBA by holding the record for most single-season rebounds — before being surpassed by A’ja Wilson. Reese’s athletic genes come from her parents , both of whom played basketball in college. Her mother, Angel Webb Reese, played for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and was inducted into its Athletics Hall of Fame, notes Today. She also had a professional career in Luxembourg. Michael Reese played at Boston College and Loyola University (Maryland) before competing overseas in Luxembourg, Austria, and Portugal, mentions USA Basketball. “My whole family played basketball. My aunts played basketball, my brother plays basketball, my grandparents played basketball. So, it kind of was like, ‘You’re gonna do this,’” Reese told Just Women’s Sports. Unsurprisingly, Reese picked up...
Jayson Tatum is making moves on and off the basketball court as he explores potential investment opportunities in a WNBA franchise in St. Louis, MO. As interested parties compete for ownership of the league’s upcoming 16th team, the Boston Celtics star has informally committed to supporting the franchise, according to Sportico. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Tatum secured a record-breaking five-year, $315 million contract extension in July and now plans to work behind the scenes, helping attract other high-profile investors and advocating for the WNBA team. “St. Louis is a top-tier sports market, and we believe that bringing a WNBA franchise to the region will be a defining moment in the city’s ongoing revitalization,” said Don Soffer, the spokesperson for the effort to establish the 16th team in St. Louis, per Sportico. Tatum’s potential involvement follows a change in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, ratified in April 2023, which, as OnFocus previously reported, now...
Chiney Ogwumike has been a trailblazer in both sports and media. Ten years after being drafted as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA by the Connecticut Sun, Ogwumike has had numerous opportunities to reflect on her illustrious career, which began at Stanford University. According to her Stanford profile, she held the title of all-time leading scorer by the end of her time there. Her collegiate achievements include: Pac-10 All-Freshman Team (2011) Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (2011) Pac-12 Tournament MVP (2013) 3x Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year In October 2024, Ogwumike was inducted into Stanford Athletics’ Hall of Fame. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chiney (@chiney) Embracing It All Although talented in sports, Ogwumike initially dreamed of a career in politics and even considered becoming a lawyer. “I always loved politics. As a kid, my family would always catch me watching the news, not like cartoons. I was a super nerd,” she told AFROTECH™ in an interview. In college,...
Nikki Fargas and Keia Clarke are making history in the WNBA! According to Diverse Representation, the duo are currently the only Black women holding CEO or president roles in the league. Both women have proven to be enhancers to their respective teams. Since 2021, Fargas, a former University of Tennessee student athlete, has held the position of president of the Las Vegas Aces, bringing valuable experience from her tenure as head coach at Louisiana State University, where she led the team to six NCAA Tournament appearances, notes Just Women’s Sports. Speaking of her appointment in a news release, Fargas said, “We are going to do everything in our power to make our front office the best in the business and provide our players with all the tools they need to bring a championship to Las Vegas.” Fargas fulfilled that promise in 2022 when the Las Vegas Aces earned their first WNBA championship. What’s more, they doubled that feat by winning again in 2023. View this post on Instagram A...
Mathew Knowles was inspired to invest in a sports team due to a former Destiny’s Child member. On Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, Knowles graced the Main Stage during the Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow (BWTT) Financial Empowerment Summit at the UIC Forum in Chicago, IL. The event promoted wealth-building among the Black community through workshops moderated by local financial experts and insightful discussions from panelists, including Keke Palmer, Larenz Tate, and Knowles, among others. Photo Credit: Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow “Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow is the largest financial education program of its kind,” Chicago’s City Treasurer Melissa Conyears Ervin explained in a statement shared with AFROTECH™ . “It brings together experts and leaders from businesses, community organizations, and city, state, and federal agencies to lead workshops and discussions that help Chicagoans build a more financially secure future.” Knowles shared insights into his family history —...
If you’ve been keeping up with the news in basketball lately, you’re likely familiar with WNBA player Angel Reese. The star Chicago Sky player recently made headlines for being the first ever woman in professional basketball to record a double-double in ten consecutive games during a single season. Despite her excellent performance on the court, Reese has been the subject of much ire. The backlash stems from Reese’s brave ability to speak out against the massive wage gap between WNBA players and their male counterparts. According to Distractify , Angel Reese currently has a net worth of just under $2 million. While this is certainly an impressive figure, particularly for a woman of only 22 years of age, it pales in comparison to the finances of most male NBA players . During a recent post-game interview, Reese spoke on her success in her chosen field. Per Sports Illustrated , she explained, “I’m a dog. You can’t teach that. I’m gonna go out and do whatever it takes to win every...
Dwyane Wade has revealed who influenced his decision to invest in the WNBA. In 2023, the former NBA player, who was born in the “Windy City” and has three national championships to his name, decided to become an investor in the Chicago Sky when the team was valued at $85 million, a news release mentions. It was not revealed what size stake Wade purchased. The team is now worth $95 million, according to Sports Illustrated. Reflecting on Wade’s participation as an investor, Nadia Rawlinson, co-owner and operating chairman of the Chicago Sky commented,” Not only has Dwyane been an extraordinary talent on the court during his career, but even more so in his business and philanthropic endeavors after. We care a lot about the culture that we’ve built, and we want people around us that have the same outlook and values as we do, and he is definitely one of those people.” She added, “Dwyane is very much someone who can help us achieve those goals and even take them to another level. There...
Nadia Rawlinson believes in investing in women’s sports. Rawlinson carries executive experience with tenure at companies that include Live Nation Entertainment, Slack, and American Express. It’s her collective experience that has emboldened her involvement with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky along with her deep appreciation for the city of Chicago, IL. “It’s having a level of understanding of how things can be done in an elite way,” she explained to Market Watch. “You have players, you have 22-year-old rookies who are moving to a new city to have their first job out of college. I care a lot about Chicago. I was here during the Bulls years when Jordan was here, which was epic. How can I recreate that here with the Sky? We are the future of Chicago and Chicago sports.” Rawlinson’s commitment to the team is exhibited in her decision to purchase equity in it. She now serves as co-owner and operating chairman of the Chicago Sky. “I’m also operating chairman, but I lead and manage our board of...
Three-time WNBA champion Swin Cash has achieved another feat. Cash, who retired from the league in 2016, was the second draft pick overall in the WNBA 2002 draft and was picked up by the Detroit Shock. During her career, she played for other teams such as Seattle Storm, Chicago Sky, Atlanta Dream, and New York Liberty over 15 years , and joined the U.S. Women’s National Team to win two Olympic gold medals (2004, 2012). After her basketball career, Cash went on to secure a leadership position in 2017 as the Liberty’s director of franchise development. In June 2019, New Orleans Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin announced that she would be hired as the team’s vice president of basketball operations and team development by the New Orleans Pelicans, Yahoo Sports reports. “I am so excited to join the New Orleans Pelicans as Vice President of Basketball Operations/Team Development,” Cash said at the time, according to a news release. “I want to extend...
Earlier this year, G.O.A.T. Fuel Co-Founder Jaqui Rice Gold told AFROTECH™ that the energy drink company had plans for reaching new heights. Holding true to the statement, G.O.A.T. Fuel — also co-founded by her father, NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, and her husband, Trevion Gold — is growing its wings within the WNBA. According to a press release shared with AFROTECH™, the brand has partnered with the Chicago Sky — making it the WNBA team’s first official energy drink. The partnership follows the company becoming the Los Angeles Lakers’ energy drink of choice. “Working with the Chicago Sky is a dream for the G.O.A.T. Fuel brand,” Rice Gold shared in a press statement. “As a childhood basketball player, I always admired the excellence, hard work, and determination of those who made it to the WNBA. In addition, as a female CEO, I’m proud to partner with the Chicago SKY, a natural alignment as we share the same values.” Rice added, “Becoming the official energy drink of the Chicago Sky...
The Jordan Brand has attracted some of the world’s greats to its brand. However, that should come as no surprise when considering who is at the helm, NBA legend Michael Jordan. It all began when his mother, Deloris, stepped in to ensure he took a chance on signing with Nike. “My mother said, ‘You’re gonna go listen. You may not like it, but you’re gonna go listen,” Jordan said in ESPN’s “The Last Dance” documentary, according to NBC Sports. “She made me get on that plane and go listen.” Jordan was originally looking to sign with Adidas, but he would make his commitment to Nike known when he signed to the brand in 1984 under a five-year, $2.5 million deal, Sports Illustrated reports. Immediately, Jordan’s presence and the staple Air Jordan exceeded expectations with sales reaching $126 million within one year. By 1997, the Jordan Brand began operating independently and also added apparel and accessories. T oday its annual revenue exceeds $6.6 billion, per Sportico. What’s more the...
This is Angel Reese’s year, and we’re just living in it! According to The Athletic, Reese is officially a “professional sports owner” as she has joined the ownership group of DC Power Football Club, Washington, DC’s new professional women’s soccer team — which will begin competing in the USL Super League in summer 2024. “I want to help grow women’s sports and elevate female athletes across the board,” Reese said in a statement. “We’re taking over, and I’m honored to be able to support Power FC and invest in women’s soccer in the DMV community.” “Angel’s decision to be a founding investor alongside us in Power FC is groundbreaking,” D.C. United CEO and Co-Chairman Jason Levien added. “As a Maryland native, Angel is so passionate about being a catalyst for positive change in women’s sports in the DMV as well as globally, while inspiring the next generation of female athletes. We’re looking forward to her partnership in the boardroom as an equity partner.” As a native of Randallstown,...
A’ja Wilson does not take the sacrifices of her parents for granted. Growing up, the Las Vegas Aces player credits her dad for encouraging her to practice shots on the court, she tells ESPN. Her father, Roscoe, would make her wear a weighted vest while she scored layups. The South Carolina-born athlete describes this time period as “the hell part” of their relationship, but it also helped to improve her skills. “Left hand, right hand, left hand, right hand,” Roscoe told ESPN. “I’d tell her to always know where her feet should be, don’t bring her hands down below her shoulders. Now, it’s second nature.” A’ja saw her improvement too. “…The heaven part was that as I grew, I started to see my game change. I realized my dad was just being my coach. As I got older and basketball got more serious, I saw that, ‘This man may know some things, A’ja, so I suggest you listen to him.'” Roscoe’s passion for the game was reflected in his own life. While he never made it to the NBA, the former...